For its twelfth edition, EDD 2018 will aim at bringing together the European Union's commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Gender equality and women empowerment are at the core of European values and enshrined within the EU's legal and political framework. This is why the event will focus on the vital role of women and the need for their full and equal participation and leadership in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Women and Girls at the Forefront of Sustainable Development: protect, empower, invest.

For its twelfth edition, EDD 2018 will aim at bringing together the European Union's commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Gender equality and women empowerment are at the core of European values and enshrined within the EU's legal and political framework. This is why the event will focus on the vital role of women and the need for their full and equal participation and leadership in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Women and Girls at the Forefront of Sustainable Development: protect, empower, invest.

Women and Girls at the Forefront of Sustainable Development: protect, empower, invest.

For its twelfth edition, EDD 2018 will aim at bringing together the European Union's commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Gender equality and women empowerment are at the core of European values and enshrined within the EU's legal and political framework. This is why the event will focus on the vital role of women and the need for their full and equal participation and leadership in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Programme

Programme

Themes and Topics

Themes and Topics

Themes and Topics

Under the main thread of ‘Women and Girls at the Forefront of Sustainable Development: protect, empower, invest’, the EDD 2018 agenda will be framed by three major themes emerging as key priorities in today’s current context: 'Ensuring the physical and psychological integrity of Girls and Women', 'Promoting economic and social rights and empowerment of Girls and Women', 'Strengthening Girls’ and Women’s voice and participation'.

Under the main thread of ‘Women and Girls at the Forefront of Sustainable Development: protect, empower, invest’, the EDD 2018 agenda will be framed by three major themes emerging as key priorities in today’s current context: 'Ensuring the physical and psychological integrity of Girls and Women', 'Promoting economic and social rights and empowerment of Girls and Women', 'Strengthening Girls’ and Women’s voice and participation'.

For its twelfth edition, EDD will be hosting once again exceptional speakers from across the world, representing different sectors and points of view on global development issues. Heads of State, Commissioners, MEPs, high-level experts, grassroots activists and many more key players in women empowerment will be present. Click here to discover who will be speaking during this year's edition.

Speakers

For its twelfth edition, EDD will be hosting once again exceptional speakers from across the world, representing different sectors and points of view on global development issues. Heads of State, Commissioners, MEPs, high-level experts, grassroots activists and many more key players in women empowerment will be present. Click here to discover who will be speaking during this year's edition.

Speakers

Speakers

For its twelfth edition, EDD will be hosting once again exceptional speakers from across the world, representing different sectors and points of view on global development issues. Heads of State, Commissioners, MEPs, high-level experts, grassroots activists and many more key players in women empowerment will be present. Click here to discover who will be speaking during this year's edition.

Everyone is given a voice in this open, collaborative and inclusive platform. Each year, the global development community is invited to contribute directly to the official EDD Programme by proposing activities and sessions. 80% of the EDD Programme is built by stakeholders. This creates an opportunity to be part of the discussion, to share know-how, thoughts and practices regarding major global development challenges. With around 120 sessions including high-level speakers, debates, project presentations, brainstorming sessions, the EDD Global Village, and an exciting Cultural Programme, this edition of the EDD is set to be the most innovative and interesting yet! Click here to find out which organisations are part of the Programme.

Partner Organisations

Everyone is given a voice in this open, collaborative and inclusive platform. Each year, the global development community is invited to contribute directly to the official EDD Programme by proposing activities and sessions. 80% of the EDD Programme is built by stakeholders. This creates an opportunity to be part of the discussion, to share know-how, thoughts and practices regarding major global development challenges. With around 120 sessions including high-level speakers, debates, project presentations, brainstorming sessions, the EDD Global Village, and an exciting Cultural Programme, this edition of the EDD is set to be the most innovative and interesting yet! Click here to find out which organisations are part of the Programme.

Partner Organisations

Partner Organisations

Everyone is given a voice in this open, collaborative and inclusive platform. Each year, the global development community is invited to contribute directly to the official EDD Programme by proposing activities and sessions. 80% of the EDD Programme is built by stakeholders. This creates an opportunity to be part of the discussion, to share know-how, thoughts and practices regarding major global development challenges. With around 120 sessions including high-level speakers, debates, project presentations, brainstorming sessions, the EDD Global Village, and an exciting Cultural Programme, this edition of the EDD is set to be the most innovative and interesting yet! Click here to find out which organisations are part of the Programme.

The EDD advocate the inclusion of youth in order to engage new voices and emerging actors in development. Following the success of the previous editions, EDD 2018 will once again host the Young Leaders Programme, inviting 16 exceptional youth representatives to speak in the high-level panels of the forum and bring fresh perspectives from the new generation. Access the Young Leaders Programme Page.

Additionally, a dedicated space called Youth Lounge will host six youth organisations who will spark interaction, cooperation, discussion and reflection with the ultimate goal of “shaking the development bubble”. Find out more about the agenda of the Youth Lounge here.

Youth Involvement

The EDD advocate the inclusion of youth in order to engage new voices and emerging actors in development. Following the success of the previous editions, EDD 2018 will once again host the Young Leaders Programme, inviting 16 exceptional youth representatives to speak in the high-level panels of the forum and bring fresh perspectives from the new generation. Access the Young Leaders Programme Page.

Additionally, a dedicated space called Youth Lounge will host six youth organisations who will spark interaction, cooperation, discussion and reflection with the ultimate goal of “shaking the development bubble”. Find out more about the agenda of the Youth Lounge here.

Youth Involvement

Youth Involvement

The EDD advocate the inclusion of youth in order to engage new voices and emerging actors in development. Following the success of the previous editions, EDD 2018 will once again host the Young Leaders Programme, inviting 16 exceptional youth representatives to speak in the high-level panels of the forum and bring fresh perspectives from the new generation. Access the Young Leaders Programme Page.

Additionally, a dedicated space called Youth Lounge will host six youth organisations who will spark interaction, cooperation, discussion and reflection with the ultimate goal of “shaking the development bubble”. Find out more about the agenda of the Youth Lounge here.

The EDD Global Village is an exciting platform featuring stands that showcase successful projects and ground-breaking reports from around the world. The village will be the focal point of the EDD 2018 venue and will serve as a crossroads for interaction, innovation and networking among participants.

EDD Global Village

The EDD Global Village is an exciting platform featuring stands that showcase successful projects and ground-breaking reports from around the world. The village will be the focal point of the EDD 2018 venue and will serve as a crossroads for interaction, innovation and networking among participants.

EDD Global Village

The EDD Global Village is an exciting platform featuring stands that showcase successful projects and ground-breaking reports from around the world. The village will be the focal point of the EDD 2018 venue and will serve as a crossroads for interaction, innovation and networking among participants.

Launched in 1992, the Lorenzo Natali Media Prize has been established with the purpose to award journalists for their exceptional work covering development. This initiative illustrates the EU’s commitment to supporting media freedom and pluralism as well as development cooperation. The Prize enables the EU to acknowledge those who contribute to the fulfilment of the priorities stated in the Agenda for Change, putting forward the political heritage of former Commissioner Lorenzo Natali. For the 2018 edition, a special thematic prize is awarded for work focused on the elimination of violence against women and girls. Find more information on the Lorenzo Natali Media Prize.

Lorenzo Natali Media Prize

Launched in 1992, the Lorenzo Natali Media Prize has been established with the purpose to award journalists for their exceptional work covering development. This initiative illustrates the EU’s commitment to supporting media freedom and pluralism as well as development cooperation. The Prize enables the EU to acknowledge those who contribute to the fulfilment of the priorities stated in the Agenda for Change, putting forward the political heritage of former Commissioner Lorenzo Natali. For the 2018 edition, a special thematic prize is awarded for work focused on the elimination of violence against women and girls. Find more information on the Lorenzo Natali Media Prize.

Lorenzo Natali Media Prize

Lorenzo Natali Media Prize

Launched in 1992, the Lorenzo Natali Media Prize has been established with the purpose to award journalists for their exceptional work covering development. This initiative illustrates the EU’s commitment to supporting media freedom and pluralism as well as development cooperation. The Prize enables the EU to acknowledge those who contribute to the fulfilment of the priorities stated in the Agenda for Change, putting forward the political heritage of former Commissioner Lorenzo Natali. For the 2018 edition, a special thematic prize is awarded for work focused on the elimination of violence against women and girls. Find more information on the Lorenzo Natali Media Prize.

The EDD 2018 Cultural Evenings will once again put the spotlight on the cultural dimension of development. Beyond the art exhibitions at Tour et Taxis, a series of cultural events in multiple venues all over the city will open the EDD 2018 to the general public of Brussels. From 4 to 7 June, the In Town Programme features activities as film screenings and debates, art performances and photography exhibitions as well as concerts of traditional and contemporary popular music.

EDD 2018 Cultural Evenings

In Town Programme

The EDD 2018 Cultural Evenings will once again put the spotlight on the cultural dimension of development. Beyond the art exhibitions at Tour et Taxis, a series of cultural events in multiple venues all over the city will open the EDD 2018 to the general public of Brussels. From 4 to 7 June, the In Town Programme features activities as film screenings and debates, art performances and photography exhibitions as well as concerts of traditional and contemporary popular music.

EDD 2018 Cultural Evenings

In Town Programme

The EDD 2018 Cultural Evenings will once again put the spotlight on the cultural dimension of development. Beyond the art exhibitions at Tour et Taxis, a series of cultural events in multiple venues all over the city will open the EDD 2018 to the general public of Brussels. From 4 to 7 June, the In Town Programme features activities as film screenings and debates, art performances and photography exhibitions as well as concerts of traditional and contemporary popular music.

The 5th AU-EU Summit, as well as last year's EU-Africa Business forum, highlighted the importance to mobilize investments for African structural sustainable transformation to boost sustainable growth and to create more and decent jobs.

In this spirit, the EC together with ECOWAS and WAEMU is organising the High level conference on job creation, growth and competitiveness in West Africa on 07/06/2018 in Brussels. Focusing on 3 areas – MSMEs, agribusiness and digitalization - the conference will bring together high-level policy makers from the EU and West Africa, financial institutions and the private sector. The event will allow for a strategic dialogue on West Africa's investment priorities, focusing on necessary policy reforms and the role the External Investment Plan can play in this process.

Side Events

The 5th AU-EU Summit, as well as last year's EU-Africa Business forum, highlighted the importance to mobilize investments for African structural sustainable transformation to boost sustainable growth and to create more and decent jobs.

In this spirit, the EC together with ECOWAS and WAEMU is organising the High level conference on job creation, growth and competitiveness in West Africa on 07/06/2018 in Brussels. Focusing on 3 areas – MSMEs, agribusiness and digitalization - the conference will bring together high-level policy makers from the EU and West Africa, financial institutions and the private sector. The event will allow for a strategic dialogue on West Africa's investment priorities, focusing on necessary policy reforms and the role the External Investment Plan can play in this process.

Side Events

Side Events

The 5th AU-EU Summit, as well as last year's EU-Africa Business forum, highlighted the importance to mobilize investments for African structural sustainable transformation to boost sustainable growth and to create more and decent jobs.

In this spirit, the EC together with ECOWAS and WAEMU is organising the High level conference on job creation, growth and competitiveness in West Africa on 07/06/2018 in Brussels. Focusing on 3 areas – MSMEs, agribusiness and digitalization - the conference will bring together high-level policy makers from the EU and West Africa, financial institutions and the private sector. The event will allow for a strategic dialogue on West Africa's investment priorities, focusing on necessary policy reforms and the role the External Investment Plan can play in this process.

The team behind Capacity4dev, the EU platform connecting more than 20,000 development experts from all over the world, is back at this year’s European Development Days. Share your project, initiative or research with our video journalists – and we will feature it on Capacity4dev. Click here for further information about the Capacity4dev corner.

Capacity4dev

The team behind Capacity4dev, the EU platform connecting more than 20,000 development experts from all over the world, is back at this year’s European Development Days. Share your project, initiative or research with our video journalists – and we will feature it on Capacity4dev. Click here for further information about the Capacity4dev corner.

Capacity4dev

Capacity4dev

The team behind Capacity4dev, the EU platform connecting more than 20,000 development experts from all over the world, is back at this year’s European Development Days. Share your project, initiative or research with our video journalists – and we will feature it on Capacity4dev. Click here for further information about the Capacity4dev corner.